Planter



Aug. 11, 1953 C. H. WHITE ET AL PLANTER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 19, 1947 FIG. 5

INVENTORS. CHARLES H.WH|TE WILLIAM P OEHLE Patented Aug. 11 1 953 PLANTER Charles H. White and William P. Oehler, Moline, Ill., assignors to Deere & Company, Moline, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application December 19, 1947, Serial No. 792,642

The present invention relates generally to planters and the like and is more particularly concerned with planters having seed valves, such as are used in check-row or hill drop planters or: the like.

The object and general nature of the present invention is to provide a planter having seed valves which are especially constructed and arranged to be operated at comparatively high speeds, such as five or six miles per hour, or more, and thereby particularly adapted for operation with farm tractors and other powered equipment.

One of the principal features of the present invention is the provision of a planter having upper and lower valves and an enclosed seed passage leading from one valve to the other, in which the rapidly oscillating parts are made as light as possible, consistent with the requisite strength, in order to reduce the inertia of the parts as much as possible. Further, it is a feature of this invention to provide a seed tube and valve structure in which the fabrication of the parts may be effected easily and quickly without requiring an excessive number of jigs and fixtures for such purpose.

' These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art after a consideration of the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary side view, with certain parts broken away, of a planter furrow opener and cooperating seed tube and valve parts in whichthe principles of the present'inventionhave been incorporated.

Figure 2 is a view of the valve blank from which the seed tube is formed.

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken generally along the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

I Figure 4 is an enlarged detail view showing the locating shoulders formed on the seed tube.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of one of the upper valve tie plates.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a combined pivot bracket and lower valve member.

Figure 7 is a detail of the upper valve.

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to Figure 1, the reference numeral I indicates the planting unit of an agricultural implement, such as a corn planter. Inasmuch as this type of planter is old and well known in the art, it is not thought necessary to completely illustrate the same herein. Hence, only such parts of the'planter as are necessaryto an under- 7 Claims. (Cl. 111-51) standing of the present invention have been shown. Tractor operated planters are usually provided with a plurality of planting units, such as the one indicated by the reference numeral I, and usually such a planter comprises frame means, which may be the tractor itself, to which each planting unit is connected by any suitable form of draft means. Preferably, each planting unit includes a furrow opener shank l to the lower end of which a furrow opener 8 is connected. The shank 1 is preferably a casting which is hollow, as indicated at H, so as to provide'what may be termed a seed passage in which the seed valves and associated mechanism are disposed. The furrow opener shank 1 is provided with a forwardly extending lug |2 by which the furrow opener 8 may be fixed thereto in any suitable manner, as by a bolt l3. The furrow opener 8 preferably is made up of two spaced apart sections.

The upper end of each furrow opener shank l conventionally carries seed selecting and feeding mechanism, indicated in its entirety by the reference numeral 20. Preferably, the seed selecting and feeding mechanism includes a seed can 2| secured in any suitable manner to a base or support 22 that is pivoted by any suitable means to the upper and forward portion of the shank l. The base 22 is also provided with a pair of rear lugs 29 with which a thumb screw 30, pivoted to a lug 3| on the upper end of the shank 1, is adapted to engage for fixing the seed can 2| in operative position. The flow of seed from the seed can or hopper 2| is controlled by a seed plate 33 rotatably mounted at the bottom of the hopper 2| and driven by means of a bevel gear 34 which meshes with a pinion driven in any suitable manner from the tractor or the ground wheels (not shown), or in any other suitable manner. The hopper bottom 22 is formed so that the seed in the seed cells of the seed plate can drop from the plate only at a certain point, as indicated by the opening 31. Usually, the seed drops by gravity from the seed plate whenever the cells are rotated into a position over the opening 3]. However, in the event that the seed should tend to stick in the cells, the usual cut-off and knocker mechanism, indicated in its entirety by the reference numeral 38, ejects the seed. Since the details per se of the mechanism '38 do not form a part of the present invention, except in novel combination with other parts to be described later, itis not deemed necessary to show the knocker and cut-off mechanism 38 in detail. So far as the present invention is concemed, any suitable means for removing. discharging or ejecting the seed from the seed plate at a certain point in the rotation of the seed plate may be used. Therefore, the seed selecting and feeding mechanism just described is representative of any suitable selecting mechanism for dropping a predetermined number of seeds according to the actuation of the seed plate 30 or some other part.

The upper end of the runner shank 1 is formed with a seed chamber 4| in which a seed chute 42 is disposed. The seed chute 42 is bolted or otherwise securely fixed to the shank 1, and the rear end of the chute 42 is open. but is adapted to be closed by an upper valve 5|. The valve 5| preferably is formed of sheet metal in order to secure lightness and is pivotally mounted on a stud 40 that is fixed to one side wall of the shank 1 and extends between the two side walls of the seed chute 42. The valve 5| is provided with a forward face 52 and has a clip 53 welded thereto, the part 53 being, shaped so as to cooperate with the rear face of the valve member 5| to form a slot 54. The seed chute 4.2 and the valve 5| form a seed receiving. chamber 56 adapted to receive seed from the. seed. selecting andv feeding mechanism 20, described above, and the movement of the seed from the seed receiving chamber 56 just mentioned. controlled by the opening and. closing. of the valve. 5|.

The seed discharged. from the seed receiving chamber 5.5 and valve 5|"are received in the upper end of a.closed.seed tube, indicated in its. entirety by the reference numeral 58, and with the upper end-of which the lower end of the. seed chute 4'2 is in. telescopic association. Also, the seed tube 58. servesas means for operating the upper valve 5|. Theseed tube 58 issquareor rectangular in cross section and is formed from ablank 13-, best shown in. Figure. 2..

Referring now to this figure, the blank 3 is formedat its upper end with pairs of openings 6|, 61 and haspressedintothe upper portionsa pair of generally triangular shaped. locatingfbosses 55. In making. the seed. tube, the blank B is folded alongthe-lines. 6B, 61, 69,,and 69 so thatthe opposite edgeportions. 1,0. and "II of the blank. meet in substantially abutting. relation. Formed. on the edgeportion 1.0. isa pair of lugs 12. and 1.3 which areofiset substantially thelthickness. of thestock, and the. lugs are fixed; as by spot welding, .to. the adjacent portions of the. opposite; edge section 1| when the. seed tube is formed. Atv the lower portion. of the blank the opposite. edge portions 10 andf1-I are formed with pairs of locating. shoulders 14 and 15, which form .pivot. pin-receiving socket. means. and will be referred to. in. more detail. later, and. at the lower edge of. the blank thelatter is out along. the line. 15 to form oppositely disposed extensions 11 and. 18 which, when the seed tube is completed, form the side walls of a. lower seed chamber 19. The extensions 11 carry lugs or tabs 8| whichare adapted to be fixed, as by spot welding, to the lower portion of a combinedpivot bracket and seed ejecting toe section or valve member, also referredt'o in detail below.

The seed tube 5.8 is, supported'for vertical oscilla't'ory movement upon pivotally mounted upper and lower members 93 and 94'. The upper member 93. is in theform of a bell'crank lever having a'pai'r of interconnected sections, each including arm sections 96 and 91'. The bell. crank member 90 is plvotail; mounted ona stud 98" carried by the "shank 1- and isrocked about the stud' 98" by means of an operating link 99 which is actuated by any suitable valve operating means. The rear end of the link 99 is apertured to receive a stud |0I that is welded to and serves to rigidly interconnect the two bell crank arms 91 and the upper bell crank arms 96 are apertured to receive a pivot pin I02 that is received in the seed tube upper openings 6| and fixed to the upper end of the seed tube 58. Preferably, each of the bell crank sections has a central cut-out portion I05 and a reenforcing portion I06.

When the bell crank member 93 is rocked about its supporting pivot 90, the seed tube 58 is moved generally vertically, and this movement is utilized for opening and closing the valve member 5| through a pin I08 which extends through the slot 54 and the openings 62 in the upper end of the seed tube. The pivot pins I02 and I08 are fixed to the upper end of the seed tube 58 by means of a pair of valve tie plates III which, as best shown in Figure 5, are generally triangular in configuration and are formed with a central cut-out section |I2 that is adapted to receive the locating boss portions 65 of the seed tube. Each tie plate is also provided with rounded extensions H3 and H4 against which the ends of the pivot pins I02 and I08 are adapted to bear. Preferably, the pair of tie plates I I, located by the boss portions 65, are spot welded to the sides of the seed tube and also tothe ends of the pivot pins I02 and I0. In this way, without the use of jigs, fixtures or the like, the pivot pins I02 and I08 may be fixed, as by welding, to the upper end of the seed" tube since the bosses 55 properly locate the tie plate III during the welding of the latter to the seed tube and. to the ends of the pivotpins I02 and I 00. The tie plates II I also strengthenand reenforce the upper end of the seed tube 5&. The cam slot 54 in the upper valve member 5| is shaped so that when the tube 58 is-moveddownwardl-y, the valve 5.I movesrearwa-rdly away from the adjacent face of the seed chute 42.

The lower bell crank member 94' comprises a pair of triangular sections I2I- having cut-out portions I22 for lightness and apertured ears I-20 receiving'apivot pin I24 by which the member 94 is pivotally mounted on :3. lug I 25 carried by the shank 1. The triangular portions I-2I of the member 94 also carrya second pair ofears I21 which are welded to the ends of an associated pivot. pin I28. Further, the member 94' includes a central websection I-3-I which is extended downwardly and. forwardly to form a valve gate section M2, the lower edge of which cooperates with the adjacent portion of-the seed tube-58, as will beexplained inhdetail below.

The seed tube 58 isoonnectedwith the lower bell. crank member 94 through the pivot pin I20 that is welded to the ears I21. A combined pivot bracket and lower seed ejectingv member, indicated' in its. entirety by the: reference numeral I35 and best shown in Figure -6, is fixed to the lower portion of the seed tube- 58 andoverlies the. lower portions of the edge sections 10 and 1| of the blank- The member I35 includes an upper portion which isshaped-so as to'provide a generally hemi-cylindricalcurved section I31 which snugly receivethe pivotpin I38. The curved section I31 is-formedwitha dirt discharge opening I30, andthe lower end of the member I35'iscurved, as indicated at |39,.and in the completed seed'tube, underlies the tabs 8] and cooperates with the extensions 11"to form the lower'se'ed chamber'19. The curved section I39 of" the member" I35" also" forms a toe o'r'see'd ejecting face I39a (Figure 1) and includes a forwardly extending lip I4I which is adapted to lie substantially fiat against the lower edge of the valve gate extension I32 of the bell crank member 94. The member I35 is provided with a second opening I45 which is used as a gauge point in formin the curved portions I31 and I39.

The member I35 is fixed to the lower portion of the seed tube without the use of fixtures or the like. When making the seed tube, the assembler applies the member 94 over the lower end of the seed tube, placing the pivot pin I28 between the pairs of shoulders I4, I5. This locates the pin I28 relative to the seed tube. Next the assembler applies the member I35 to the seed tube, placing the curved section I 31 about the pivot pin I28 after the lower curved portion I38 is disposed between the side wall extensions 11 and underneath the bent over tabs -8I. In this way the member I35 is located relative to the seed tube through the pivot pin I28 and the shoulders 14, I5 so that the member I 35 may be spot welded to the rear wall of the seed tube while the assembler is holding the member I35 engaged with the pin I 28 and under the tabs BI. The side wall extensions I8 are provided so that the lower portion I32 of the lower valve member remains in position between the two side walls of the seed tube at all times. The central section I3I of the member 94 is provided with a recess I41 to receive the ball end of a pin I48 that is connected in any suitable way with a spring biased fertilizer valve pivotally supported in a fertilizer attachment I50. The present invention is not concerned with the details of the fertilizer valve unit.

By virtue of the above described features, the seed tube and associated parts are made as light in weight as possible, consistent with the required strength, whereby the inertia of the valve parts is materially reduced, as compared with prior valves, and hence the planting may be performed at a higher rate of speed than heretofore. Also, the fabrication of the seed tube and valve unit has been materially simplified and the number of necessary parts reduced.

While we have shown and described above the preferred structure in which the principles of the present invention have been incorporated, it is to be understood that our invention is not to be limited to the particular details shown and described above, but that, in fact, widely different means may be employed in the practice of the broader aspects of our invention.

What we claim, therefore, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a planter including an oscillatable seed tube and a supporting member pivotally connected therewith by means of a transverse pivot pin, a combined pin-receiving member and seed-ejecting toe section comprising an elongated part having a transverse generally hemi-cylindrical pivot pin embracing section adjacent one end and a curved seed-engaging section adjacent the other end.

2. In a planter including an oscillatable seed tube and a supporting member pivotally connected therewith by means of a transverse pivot pin, a combined pin-receiving member and seed-ejecting toe section comprising an elongated part having a pivot pin embracing section adjacent one end and a seed-engaging section adjacent the other end, said pivot pin embracing section having a dirt discharge opening.

3. In a planter including an oscillatable seed tube and a supporting member pivotally connected therewith by means of a transverse pivot pin, a combined pin-receiving member and seedejecting toe section comprising an elongated part having a pivot pin embracing section adjacent one end and a seed-engaging section adjacent the other end, and an extension formed on said supporting member and forming with said seedejecting toe section a seed valve, the lower portion of said toe section being bent laterally outwardly for a relatively short distance and adapted to engage substantially flat against the lower edge portion of said extension.

4. In a planter including an oscillatable seed tube and a supporting member pivotally connected therewith by means of a transverse pivot pin, a combined pin-receiving member and seedejecting toe section comprising an elongated part having a transverse generally hemi-cylindrical pivot pin embracing section adjacent one end and a seed-engaging section adjacent the other end.

5. In a planter, an oscillatable seed-conducting means having a wall carrying a pair of spacedapart pin-receiving shoulders, a member pivotally connected to said means including a pivot pin disposed between said shoulders, an elongated attaching part secured to said wall and having adjacent one end a curved portion embracing said pivot pin for pivotally connecting said member to said means, said part having at the other end a seed-engaging portion extending below said wall, and a pair of lugs on said means secured to said seed-engaging portion.

6. In a planter, an oscillatable seed-conducting means having a wall carrying a pair of spacedapart pin-receiving shoulders, a member pivotally connected to said means including a pivot pin disposed between said shoulders, an elongated attaching part secured to said wall and having adjacent one end a curved portion embracing said pivot pin for pivotally connecting said member to said means, said part having at the other end a seed-engaging portion extending below said wall, and a pair of lugs on said means overlying and engaging said seed-engaging portion.

7. In a planter, an oscillatable seed-conducting means having a wall carrying pivot pin-receiving socket means, a member pivotally connected to said seed-conducting means including a pivot pin disposed in said socket means, an attaching part secured to said wall and having adjacent one section thereof a curved portion embracing said pivot pin for pivotally connecting said member to said seed-conducting means, said attaching part having at another section thereof a seedengaging portion extending below said wall, and means connecting said attaching part to said seed-conducting means.

CHARLES H. WHITE. WILLIAM P. OEHLER.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 357,047 Skiles Feb. 1, 1887 1,193,975 Beardsley Aug. 8, 1916 2,238,702 McIntosh Apr. 15, 1941 2,340,163 White Jan. 25, 1944 2,505,872 White May 2, 1950 

